Colorado has a sound election system, but we can improve our system substantially so it better serves voters’ needs, takes advantage of our technology, and saves tax dollars.

House Bill 1303, the Colorado Voter Access & Modernized Elections Act, meets all of those goals.

If you’re reading this, you likely voted by mail last November, and you’re in good company: Seventy-two percent of Colorado voters joined you. Mail ballots are a convenient, secure and private way to cast a ballot that is increasingly popular among Colorado voters.

HB 1303 answers the demand of these voters while providing ample options for voters who prefer to vote in person. It eliminates the “inactive-failed-to-vote” status that created confusion for voters. It creates a graduated registration system that scales down the demand on the system as Election Day approaches.

The approach serves voters in accordance with our technological ability to process information and eliminates our current dependence on Election Day provisional ballots, thus reducing lines at voting centers.

The new legislation would simplify and clarify the voting process: Every voter gets a ballot and options about how to vote. Voters can mail back the ballot, drop it off, vote in person during early voting, or vote on Election Day.

It’s your voice and your choice.

This bill will make important security upgrades. For the first time, every polling place in the state will be able to have “real time” access to whether a voter has cast a ballot. It’s an important piece of Colorado’s 21st century election system.

Voters also will have expanded options for registration. Every eligible citizen would be able to register to vote at their county clerk’s office through Election Day. Vote centers will also be available to register to vote through early voting and Election Day.

First-time registrants would have to use the existing procedure and bring an approved identification and sign an affidavit that they are a legal Colorado resident (same as the current system).

Eligible citizens would be able to get expanded services such as registration, replacement ballots, resolve voting issues and vote in person at voter service and polling centers beginning 15 days before and through Election Day.

Finally, voters win because of savings to local governments by modernizing the system. There would be fewer taxpayer dollars spent on maintaining voter lists, less paperwork and equipment replacement.

As former county clerks, we both understand the pragmatic, non-political approach to maintaining the public trust in elections. Technology has caught up with the needs of voters and taxpayers. The Voter Access & Modernized Elections Act will mean more people can take advantage of their right to vote, our local governments will save money and we all win.

Donetta Davidson is executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association and a former Colorado secretary of state. Joan Fitz-Gerald is president of America Votes, former Jefferson County clerk and former president of the state Senate.